If THE riots that flared up in England earlier this month were dizzyingly unexpected, the political debate about them has been deflatingly predictable. After dutiful condemnations of the violence, an old, sterile division has come to dominate it: between those who want to be nasty to the culprits and others who want to be nice. Both are wrong-and right. Cudgels and compassion both have a place: the key is knowing where. The nasty camp, which includes most of the right-wing press and much of the country, wants to punish rioters severely. Urged on by David Cameron, some councils have begun proceedings to evict them and their families from social housing. Iain Duncan Smith, the welfare secretary, wants to withdraw benefits from convicted rioters. Courts have imposed long sentences for minor offences: four years, for instance, for two people who tried (and failed) to use Facebook to incite rioting; six months for stealing a £3.50 case of water.
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